Apparatus for aging whisky.



No. 864,896. PATENTED SEPT. 3, 1907. W. H. JOHNSON.

APPARATUS FOR AGING WHISKY.

APPLICATION FILED -IOY.'2, 1906.

' 1 @MMM rnr NORRIS PBTIRS co wAsm-mroN. v. c

ii t) UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

- APPARATUS FOR AGING WHISKY.

Application filed November 2, 1906.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus adapted tor causing the circula tion ol' heat evenly through the receptacle containing the whisky, permitting the gradual heating of the contents until every particle is raised to the desired tcm ,)erature, the invention being oi? such character as to accomplish the work required in a most etticient man nor in a minimum or time, and expense and with practically no loss ol whisky. With the above, and other incidental, objects in view, the invention consists of the improved a qaaratus and its parts, or the equivalen ts as hereinafter more fully set torth.

1n. the aceompmiying drawings illustrating a preferred l'orm ol' apparatus, Figure .l. is a central, vertical section, parts broken away, ol' the apparatus as applied to a tank, the tank also being in vtn'tical section; Fig. 2 is a sectional view ot the lower part of the apparatus; Fig. 2% is a view of the part shown in Fig. 2 but at right angles thereto, parts broken away; Fig. 4 is a cross section of Fig. 3 taken on line et-et; cross section. of Fig. 3, taken on line 5---o; and Fig. (5 is a cross section of Fig. 3 taken on line 6-43.

The numeral 10 indicates the upper tank oi the apparatus, provided in. its top with avalvo controlled vent tube H. A steam inlet pipe 12 extends downwardly along one side or end of this tank, and thence beneath the tank to approximately the center of the bottom of the tank, and thence downwardly in a straight line, and a steam outlet pipe 13 extends downwardly along the opposite side or end ot the tank and thence beneath the tank to amn-oxinntt:ly the center of the bottom of the tank, and thence downwardly in a straight line parallel with and adjacent, to the correspmnling por tion of pipe 12. The pipes 12 and 13 are incased by a casing ht, prct'eraldy of brass. The lower end of this casing is open, and the upper end thereol terminates in a tapered metallic screw-threaded bung 15. The casing is provided therearouiul, at a desired distance above its lower end, with a series of apertures 16 arranged annular-1y, and at a desired distance.above the aperture to with similarly arranged apertures 17. The lower ends ol? pipes l2 and t3 terminate short of the lower end of the casing, and have connection with a hollow block IS set in the lower end, otsaid casing which block l8 is a return bend, connecting the lower ends of pipes 12 & 13. This block does not till up the entire bore ot' the casing, and consequently spaces Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 5 is Patented Sept. 3, 1907.

set-a1 No. 341,719.

].J-l.9 arc lett; on opposite sides of the block, whereby the liquid contents ot the receptacle are free to pass into said casing and into spaces 19- 1.) and out perforations l6lti and Il7-l7. Extending from the bottom of the tank il.ll,tt1l(l communicating with the interior of said tank, is another pipe 20. This pipe is preterably connected to the bottom ot' the tank by having its upper extremity which passes through an opening in the tank bottom [headed to receive a nut 2.1. Pipe 20 passes downwardly in a straight line through the bung 15, but on the outside of casing 14, as clearly shown in the drawings, and is considerably shorter than pipes 12 and 13, its lower end terminating but a co1nparatively slight; distance below the lower edge of bung l5, and said lower end being novided with a series of slots 20 in order to insure the provision at all times of free openings to the pipe, even though the lower end otsaid pipe should become clogged with solid substance, such as shavings, chips, charcoal tlakes, and the like.

Fig. 1. ol' the drawings shows the apparatus applied to a large size tank 22, and Fig. 2 to an ordinary whisky barrel 23. In the application of the apparatus to a tank the several. pi pcs are passed through the bun g hole in the uppcr end or head of the tank, the bung .15 when it reaches the bung hole being screwed tightly into said hole. When the apparatus is thus inserted, the lower end ot the casing 1-l will be just above the bottom of the tank. The apparatus can of course be ap plied to a tank oi anysize by regulating the size ot the steam pipes to suit the requirements ol' dit'terent tanks. The apparatus is applied to a barrel in the same manner that it is applied to a tank, excepting that it is insorted through a bung hole in the side of the barrel. As is well known, whisky barrcls are made ol' charred staves, and therefore when my apparatus is applied to a barrel, the charring on the interior of the slaves will give the desired color to the liquor. In cases where my apparatus is applied to large size tanks which are not composed ol' charred stavcs, l. provide clntrrcd blocks 24 which float on the surface of the liquid contents, and serve to impart the required color to the liquor.

In. the use of the apparatus, the steam admitted through the pipe l2 will flow down said pipe 12 and up and out through pipe 'lIl, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5. The course of the steam and heated liquor, as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 'l and 2 ol the drawings, develops a complete circulation causing the liquor to move about in the reccpt acl e much the same as a pump would cause the liquor to move. In other words, the cold liquor is caused to go down as indicated b the downwardly pointed arrows in Figs. 1 and 2, to'takc the place of the hot liquor which is going up through the bottom of the casing and out through the mri'orations l6 and 17 as indicated by the upwardly pointing arrows in said Figs. 1 and 2. By thus providing for the circulation of heat evenly through the receptacle the gradual heating of the contents is accomplished, and

a rush of liquor to and clogging oi the outlet pipe, and I consequent extra pressure on the receptacle are prevented. This circulating and heating continues until the temperature of every particle is raised to the desired point, without the necessity of raising the temperature to such a high point as to render the liquor bitter. When the temperature of the entire body oi liquor is raised to the desired point, the expansion oi the liquor causes an incre d pressure, and consequently a portion of the liquor is lorced up the pipe 20 into the upper tank 10. When the liquor cools down, or when the heating operation is stopped, the liquid in the upper tank will flew back into the lower receptacle.

1n addition to the advantages heretofore recited, I claim that with the use 01' my invention there is practically no loss oi whisky, and practically no danger of blowing out the head of the receptacle by pressure, the expansion being so gradual on account of the'eirculation oi the liquor. The heating is also so general that every particle oi color is extracted from the stave without raising the temperature to a high point, and that it is capable oi accomplishing a most etlicient aging of the liquor in a comparatively short space oi time, and consequently with a great saving 01' fuel l'or steam and labor for operation.

While I have described my improved apparatus as )articularly adapted lor aging whisky, yet I do not Wish to be understood as restricting the invention thereto, as it may be employed for the purpose of aging and coloring any other kind ol liquor without departing from the spirit and scope oi my invention.

What I claim as my invention is;

1. An apparatus [or aging liquor, consisting of a tank, an inlet pipe for the heating agent, an outlet pipe for the heating agent, said pipes extending adjacent to each other, and the lower ends of said pipes being connected by a return bend, a casing inclosing the pipes, the lower end of said casing being open, means at the upper end of the casing for engaging the bung hole of a receptacle, and a pipe depending from the tank and extending along the outside of the casing for a desired distance.

2. An apparatus for aging liquor, consisting of a tank, an inlet pipe for the heating agent, an outlet pipe i'or the heating agent, said pipes extending adjacent to each other, and the lower ends of said pipes being connected by a return bend, a casing inclosing the pipes, the lower end oi said casing being open and the upper end thereot ter minating in a hung, and a pipe depending from the tank and extending through the bung and on the outside of the casing for a desired distance.

3!. An apparatus for aging liquor, consisting of a tank, an inlet pipe for the heating agent, an outlet pipe for the heating agent, said pipes extending adjacent to each other, and the lower ends of said pipes being connected by a return bend, a casing inclosing the pipes, the lower end of the casing being open, and said casing provided with sets of perforations arranged a desired distance apart, means at the upper end of 'the casing for engaging the bung hole of a receptacle, and a pipe depending from the tank and extending along the outside of the casing for a desired distance.

1 l l l ends of said pipes being connected by a return bend, a casing inclosing the pipes, the lower end oi said casing being open, a pipe depending from the tank and extending along the outside oi the casing, and means :it the upper end of the casing for engaging the bung hole of the receptacle, when the casing and the inclosed pipes and the depending pipe are inserted through the bung hole, the lower end of the casing when the device is so applied terminating at, :1 desired distance above the bottom of the rcceptucle.

71. The combination with a receptacle for containing liquor, said receptacle provided with a hung hole, of an apparatus for aging the liquor contained in the receptacle, said apparatus consisting ot a tank, an inlet pipe for the heating agent, an outlet: pipe for the heating agent, said pipes extending adjacent to each other, and the lower ends of said pipes being connected by a return bend, a casing inclosing the pipes, the lower end ot the casing being 'open, and said casing provided with sets olf portforutions arranged :1 desired distance apart, a pipe depending from the tank and extending along the outside of the casing, and means at the upper end of the casing for engaging the bung hole of the receptacle, when the casing and the inclosed pipes and the depending pipe are inserted through the bung hole, the lower end of the casing, when the device is so applied, terminating at a desired distance above the bottom of the receptacle.

6. The combination with a receptacle for containing liquor, said receptacle provided with a hung hole, of an apparatus for aging the liquor contained in the receptacle, said apparatus consisting of a tank, an inlet pipe for the heating agent, said pipe extending along one side of the tank, thence beneath the bottom of the tank, and thence downwz'irdly, an outlet pipe for the heating agent, said pipe extending along the opposite side of the tank, thence beneath the bottom of the tank, and thence downwardly parallel with and adjacent to the inlet pipe, the lower ends of said pipes being connected by a return bend, a casing inclosing the pipes, the lower end of said casing being open, a pipe depending from the bottom 01 the tank along the outside of the casing, and menus at the upper end 01 the casing for engaging the bung hole of the recep tacle, when the casing and the inclosed pipes and the depending pipe are inserted through the bung hole, the lower end of the casing, when the device is so applied, terminating at a desired distance above the bottom of the receptacle.

7. An apparatus for aging liquor, consisting ot a receptacle provided with an opening, means inserted through said opening and into the receptacle for heating the liquor contained therein, a casing forming part of said means, and said casing provided with inlet and outlet openings whereby the liquor entering into the casing through the inlet opening is heated to a degree above the temperature of the liquor on the outside 0t said casing, causing the heated liquor to rise in the casing and to be discharged through the outlet opening, thereby producing a circulation or the liquor within the receptacle.

8. The combination with a receptacle for containing liquor, said receptacle provided with a hung hole, charred blocks within the receptacle and adapted to lloat on the surface of the liquor in said receptacle, of an apparatus for aging the liquor contained in the receptacle, said apparatus consisting of a tank, an inlet pipe for the heating agent, an outlet pipe for the heating agent, said pipes ex tending adjacent to each other, and the lower ends 01' said pipes being connected by a return bend, a casing inclosing the pipes, the lower end of said casing being open, a pipe depending from the tank and extending along the outside ol. the casing, and means at the upper end of the casing for engaging the bung hole of the receptacle, when the casing and the incloscd pipes, and the depending pipe are inserted through the bung hole, the lower end of the casing, when the device is so applied, terminating at a desired distance above the bottom of the receptacle.

5). An apparatus for aging liquor, consisting of a rccep tacle provided with an opening, and means inserted through said opening and into the receptacle for heating the liquor contained therein, said means arranged and adapted to heat a column of liquor to a degree above the Cit temperature of the liquor adjacent to said column, and to allow said 11ea1ed column of liquor to How into the liquor adjacent to said column and therein produce a rapid cireula1ion oi the liquor Within the reeepiacle.

11,) An apparatus for aging liquor. eonsis 11g of a reeeplacle provided with an opening, and means inserted through said opening and into the receptacle for heating the liquor conlaiued therein. means for aceonnnodating the overtlow o1? liquor caused by expansion from heating [r0111 1l1e receptacle, said heating means arranged and adapted to heat a column of liquor to a degree above the temperature of the liquor adjacent to said column, and 1e allow said heated column of liquor to llow into the liquor adja' cent to said column and thereby produce a rapid circula iion oi? the liquor within the rcceplz'lcle.

.1 1.. An apparatus for aging liquor, consisting 011 a reeeptaele provided with 1111 opening, nieans inserted through said opening and into the receptacle for heating the liquor contained lhcrein, means for accommodating the overtlow of liquor caused by expansion from heating from the receptaele. a casing forming part olf said heating means, and said casing provided with inlet and outlet openings whereby the liquor entering into 1110 casing through the inlet opening is heated to a degree above the trnnperature oi the liquor on the outside 01 said casing, causing the heated liquor to rise in the casing and to be discharged through the ouilet opening. thereby producing a Circulation 01 the liquor \vi1l1i11 the receptacle.

1;. .-\11 apparatus for aging liquor, consisting of a receptacle provided with a threaded opening, and means reniovably inserted through said opening and into the receptaele for heating 1110 liquor contained therein said means provided with a threaded portion adapted to engage the threads oif the opening and form a liquid tight joint, said heating means arranged and adapted 1o heat a column 01? liquor to a degree above the temperature oi? the liquor ad ,iaeent to said column, and to allow said heated column of liquor to llow into the liquor adjacent to said column and thereby produce a rapid circulation oi. the liquor within the receptacle. 1

.151. A11 amJaraius for aging liquor, consisting 01 a re ceptaele provh'led with a threaded opening. and means re 111ova11ly inserted through said opening and into the receptacle for heating the liquor contained therein, said means provided With a threaded portion adapted to engage the llu'eads 01? the opening and form a liquid tight joint, means for aeeonnuodating the overilow of liquor caused by pansion from heating from the reeeptaclt-e, said heating means arranged and adapted to hea 1: a column of liquor to a. degree above the temperature of the liquor adjacent to said column. and to allow said heated column of liquor to How into the liquor adjacent to said eoluinu and thereby produce a rapid circulation 015 the liquor Within the receptaele.

in testimony whereof, I ailix my signature, 111 presenee of two witnesses.

WILLIAM ll. JOHNSON: Witnesses 111111 11. 11111111111 1111'11111, II. A. Enron. 

